Instagram and the decline of western civilization

View from my bedroom window.

Blogs have taken a back seat lately, there have been days that my laptop hasn't even been turned on.  GASP!  That's unheard of!  It would be great to say I've been off on some wonderful vacation or brokering world peace or something, but the truth is - I've been geeking out on Instagram.  I know.  I'm late to ALL the parties.

Yes I follow all kinds of cat people, shabby chic people, and pretty photos people.  There are a sprinkling of celebrities, and yes my own gallery is chock full of kitty pictures too.  But what gives me pause is when some young girl likes one of my pictures so I look at her photos

You can't SEE me!

to see if there is anything to like in return.

It's appalling to see how many young girls (high school, probably) post suggestive pictures of themselves on the Internet and social media.  Oh yes they have clothes on, and no they aren't usually outright lewd.  But these girls seem to have the objective of looking attractive -- by looking as sexy as they can online.  What happened to innocence?  Self respect?  The sad thing is - my view would be considered totally out of step, un-hip and out of touch.  Because so much of that behavior has become the norm.  The young boys?  Picture after picture of them holding their phones while they take pictures of their baby 6-packs in the mirror.  It's all about the physical.

I remember being in high school, I remember being young.  I remember wanting people to stop being so uptight about things and thinking - anything goes - as long as you

Another cat in a box

aren't hurting anyone else.

But then I grew up.

Now I know that as a society we do need rules.  Not about whether or not we can eat trans-fats or drink uber large cups of sugary pop.  We need to bring back a conscience.  Not a conscience that says we should tolerate everything and everyone but a conscience that makes us have some basic sense of right and wrong, good and bad, and for God's sake there should be some boundaries for behavior where not every single thing is acceptable because we don't want to judge someone else.

Apple blossoms from my back yard.

Hyper-tolerance and political correctness have made it very difficult for ordinary folks to look at something and say - I don't agree with that.  I think that's wrong.  Even when they do feel that way.  There is no balance anymore and we are sliding so far in one direction that I wonder if we can ever get back to center again.

And no, when I see those young girls who like a picture of one of my cats, I cannot bring myself to like one of their photos in return.  Somehow that would be tacit approval of how they are presenting themselves.

Can't do it.  Won't do it.  And what those girls represent makes me incredibly sad.

I'm just sayin'

I just have to say something. If I say enough is enough, if I warn you that you are pissing me off, I would advise you to accept the consequences if you continue to push.

Do not ever tell me to not let it bother me because in my mind that does not compute. If you are striking a nerve, one that is raw to begin with, I have no control over how I FEEL when you hit it.

You are the one person I expect to respect my feelings and my boundaries. Do you understand how that makes it worse if you are the one to hurt my feelings? And not listening to me hurts my feelings.

Normally you are so incredibly good at it. That probably makes it hurt more. I’m not used to feeling anything but good things for you and from you and I never expect to feel the need to end a conversation abruptly because you are ignoring what I have said.

It happens so rarely for us. Because we are wonderful together.

Normally.

Yes, I love you. I have always loved you I always will. That doesn’t change.

I just need a minute, and you need a minute too. Figuratively speaking. I will soothe my raw nerve and you will lick your wounds.

It will all be fine.